With love, Harry
Summary:
In which Harry goes back in time, adopts his arch nemesis and pulls one infamous Dark Lord into his madness somewhere along the way.
"Surprise! Tom, meet your grandfather!"
"Harry. That's Gellert Grindelwald."
"I know. Isn't it exciting!? And he'll be tutoring you to be the greatest Dark Lord ever!"
"What?"
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is the boss of it all.
Warning: Grammar, perhaps?
A/N: A chapter where there's a lot of anger but it ends on a sweet note, nevertheless. Alternatively known as, Septhis needs lots of hugs and kisses— preferably not from dementors though.
Six
Tom Marvolo Riddle stared.
Or rather, glared.
It barely made a difference, really, as he fixed his cold gaze upon the anomalythat had arrived along with Harry.
This boy must have taken advantage of the Harry's kindness and manipulated him into coming along to reside in the manor with them.
Septhis immediately brought down a hand on the little Dark Lord's shoulder, fingers digging in in an attempt to keep the kid from lunging forward.
Tom Marvolo Riddle seemed particularly murderous at the moment and Harry, in all his obliviousness, appeared to have not even noticed it. Septhis didn't know whether to be pained by his master's ignorance or be relieved the man didn't realize just how twisted his adopted son was already turning out to be. After all, jealousy was not something to be taken light of.
The creature clinging on to Harry simply smirked, clearly having sensed the whole predicament but being audacious enough to be amused by it.
Oh great. Septhis was seriously beginning to consider taking a vacation. Another demon added to this happy family.
"Harry." Septhis began stiffly. "Why don't we go outside to have a talk?"
"Sure." Harry shrugged as he set Demon no. 2 down on the ground. He smiled (smiled!) at the atrocity. "Why don't you introduce yourself to Tom? Talk and get along with each other alright? I'll be back real quick."
Tom watched as the newcomer unabashedly batted (how dare he!) his eyelashes at Harry.
"Of course."
Septhis dragged Harry out of the manor, shutting the front door behind him with a loud bang and also leaving the two children to their own devices in the process— something definitely not advised upon, especially when one of them was already delving into the Dark Arts and the other was, well, a "creature", so to say.
"You must be Tommy." The other broke the silence, an award winning sneer slapped unto his face as he spoke in a tone that dripped heavily with distaste.
The little Dark Lord found his body moving on its own accord; he marched right up to the other and grabbed theboy by his crisp white collared shirt (death to all who claimed it was such a "muggle" thing to do) with a snarl on his lips. "That's Tom Marvolo Riddle to you."
The other, however, seemed unfazed and rather, more amused. "No Mortimer as a surname, I see."
"Are you James!?" Tom demanded impatiently, his hand tightening its hold on the boy's collar— and slowly choking him in the process.
(Septhis did think leaving them alone would be disastrous but he had some bashing to do first so he wasn't very unconcerned.)
The newcomer's expression immediately soured before he pushed Tom away none too gently. "Such a mundane name, much like yours." He huffed as he straightened his shirt. "I hate to disappoint but my name is Sanguini Claudoir—"
"So you're not James." The little Dark Lord visibly relaxed, completely brushing the other off mid-name which was pretty rude but not like he cared anyway.
"— de Lamoureaux, next Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Lamoureaux—"
"I'm glad I don't have a name that is as mouthful as yours." Tom raised a brow.
"—one of the seven Noble House of Vampires." The other finished, his chest puffed up with pride while seeming unbothered by the multiple interruptions.
"Vampire?" Tom repeated, suddenly seeming curious.
"What?" Sanguini scoffed. "So eager to see my fangs?"
"Yes," came the blunt reply.
The young vampire who had not been expecting such honesty was completely caught off guard. "What?"
"I'd very much like to see those fangs of yours." Tom Riddle nodded as he took a step forward, making the other unconsciously take a step back. "I have, as of late, been reading up on some rather interesting potion ingredients. And there was this particular one that mentioned the use of fangs extracted from young vampires, such as you."
"That is some very dark book you're reading."
"I hear it's a grand occasion for pureblood vampires, the Coming of Age rites; a sacred ritual performed before a young vampire's presentation to society." Tom continued, as he rapidly closed the gap between them. "When the young one sinks his fangs into living flesh for the very first time, ancient magic coats his fangs, they say. And depending on how recent the ritual is the stronger the effect of the fangs will be as an ingredient."
Sanguini raised his hand, palm stuck up, forcing the young Dark Lord to stop in his tracks. It didn't take a genius to realize how uneasy and uncomfortable the boy had become. "Do not take a step closer."
"Why? Are you scared?" The corner of Tom's lip quirked up in a smirk. "What happened to all of your confidence?"
However, in that very moment (Sanguini fervently thanked his lucky stars because merde, this boy is dangerous), the front doors flew open.
"See, they're getting along just fine! There was nothing to worry about."
The two adults had finally returned from their so called "talk" and from the dark look on Septhis's face, it had definitely not gone on well. Septhis Mortimer, much to Harry's dismay, turned a deaf ear to his exclamation and instead snapped his fingers at the two. "Tom, step away from that…that creature. Now."
Tom lifted his hands up in mock surrender and did as he was told.
"And you—"
"Sanguini Claudoirde Lamoureaux."
"—come." Septhis's eyebrow twitched in irritation. "Son-ghee-nee. I will show you to your room and tell you about the rules of this manor while we're at it."
Tom Riddle's smug smirk dropped at Septhis's words. "You mean it's staying with us!?"
The other boy shot him a glare as he opened his mouth to retort but was instead beaten to it by Harry.
"Tommy, Sanguini is a 'he'." Harry reprimanded the little Dark Lord with a light knock of his knuckles on the top of the boy's head. "You shouldn't treat him any different from us just because he's a vampire."
The boy turned stiff from the sudden contact because just when did he get next to me?
It was now Sanguini's turn to look smug which only went on to irritate Tom.
Thankfully enough, the vampire was led away before anything could happen. Septhis was indeed the best person when it came to damage control— and probably the only worthy being in the entire universe right now that very much deserved a holiday.
After the two had left, an awkward silence ensued.
Well, awkward at least for the young Dark Lord.
"So, Tom!" Harry exclaimed with a bright smile, turning his full attention on to his son now that the other demon he'd picked up was gone. "My unplanned holiday went on longer than I had expected it to. Have you been keeping well?"
It had been so long (two weeks, a voice in the back of Tom's mind supplied); he didn't really know what— how to feel.
Yes, he was happy, relieved even because Harry was back!
But the emotion was short lived.
And the reality of it all seemed to crash down on him harshly the moment Harry ruffled his hair with fondness—
THWACK!
Tom Riddle slapped his father's hand away.
(His relief had morphed into anger.)
The two of them appeared to be genuinely surprised by this action. Tom even more so than the other because never in their span of interaction had he ever reacted violently to his so called father's touches of affection.
"Why did you leave me?" Tom abruptly stepped away from Harry, reacting as though his touch was poison, as he hissed at the man in the tongue of serpents.
It was okay, he suddenly decided. Okay for him to pour out his anger this way because Harry did not, would never understand him.
"How dare you disappear without even a word!?"
The green, green eyes grew wide with—
With what?
Shock? Horror?
(Harry didn't know he could speak to snakes. No, Tom had never told him about it. Why? He was never too sure about it either.)
Or…disgust?
"I—" Tom looked away, suddenly afraid of seeing Harry's reaction to this sudden revelation. "—I thought you—"
He stopped himself.
Harry didn't need to know.
(What would he even do if he came to know anyway?)
And then he stormed out of the room, away from the man who called himself his father.
(Tom Riddle was just tired.)
I thought you would not come back home.
(Tired from all the waiting.)
Harry was thinking.
A feat Septhis would have mocked because Harry Potter? Thinking? Have the dementors started handing out free hugs and non-soul-sucking kisses as well!?
His eyebrow involuntarily twitched.
The said man chose that very moment to enter his study. Septhis studied Harry for a moment before finally speaking. "My, don't tell me you're—"
"Yes, I'm thinking." Harry huffed in annoyance. Speak of the devil and ye shall appear.
The pale man only quirked up a brow. "Oh? I was actually referring to the flavored tea you're drinking. Peach. I thought you despised it but alright. You're thinking." There was a considerably stretched pause. "Should I be worried?"
"No." Harry groaned in response as he buried his face in his hands. "Leave me alone. Don't bully me."
"I left you alone for two weeks and look at the trouble you brought back." Septhis casually stated. "I do not want to know what will happen in the next few hours I leave you alone, so no, I will do no such thing."
"Suit yourself." The messy haired male sighed as he sank deeper into his seat.
"Pray tell what's keeping you up thinking. You seemed very distracted over dinner as well so I'm guessing this 'thinking' session is related to it."
"Tom didn't show up for dinner." Harry absently noted.
"Oh. So this is about our resident Dark Lord in the making." Septhis rolled his eyes. "I should have known."
"He's angry because I left without a single word." Harry stated as he recalled the conversation they had shared in the afternoon; the conversation which was supposed to be one-sided.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for Tom, Harry still knew parseltongue.
"Bravo!" Anyone could see the sarcasm dripping in the pale man's exclamation. "I thought you would never realize! Should we hold a feast to commemorate such a wonderful discovery?"
"Septhis, I'm trying to have a decent conversation with you here!"
"Alright. Yes, he's angry." Septhis shrugged. "You should have seen him when you weren't around. Even though he would never admit it, he very much missed you. That boy left destruction in his wake the last two weeks—"
"Tom missed me!?" Harry gasped.
"That's not the point here. Did you even hear what I was saying about him wreaking havoc—"
The Master of Death, however, tuned the other out and stood up with renewed determination in his eyes. "Undo the wards to his room right now."
"You can do it yourself. He's just a nine year old."
"Yes, but a powerful and talented one." Harry replied as he quickly zipped out of his study. "Plus, I need to think so I can't really spare even a second in undoing his wards."
"Or you're just lazy." Septhis sighed as he followed behind. "Fine, just don't do anything stupid. And try to actually give a second thought to the repercussions of what might happen if whatever it is you're going to do fails."
"I know!"
"I'm just taking precautions."
The two soon found themselves standing in front of the plain rosewood doors of Tom Riddle's room.
With a huff, Septhis drew out his hand and pressed it against the wooden surface. There was a sharp hiss as the door seemed to come alive. The plain design twisting and turning until the entirety of the door was covered in snake carvings— which were very much alive. Moving too; and currently trying to wrap themselves round the pale man's hand.
"See," Harry pointed out, sounding pleased, "I told you, powerful and talented."
"Harry, this is not the time to be proud of your son." Septhis frowned. He let out a pulse of dark energy through his hand and unto the door. The snakes slowly froze up, turning into mere inanimate carvings in the process.
"That was some brilliant transfiguration." Harry hummed happily as he pushed the doors open. "You've improved so much, Tom."
The boy who had been sitting by the large desk that faced the window turned around in alarm at the sound of Harry's voice. His wary expression quickly shifted to an unreadable one as he slowly rose from his seat. "I have already eaten dinner." He said stiffly. "The butler had it delivered to my room."
The green eyed man shut the doors behind him and approached his son who seemed to be carefully assessing him. "Oh no, this isn't about dinner." Harry said as he summoned a chair before making himself comfortable once he was close enough to the other. "Though the mutton chops were amazing, weren't they? It's alright, Tom, you can sit."
"What," Tom hesitantly began as he did what he was told. "…do you want?"
"To talk." Harry replied in all honesty.
"Talk." The boy deadpanned.
"Yes." Harry nodded with enthusiasm, glad that the little Dark Lord had not brushed him off. He then paused. "Or maybe not exactly talk," Harry trailed off before spreading his arms open, "hug?"
"No." Tom immediately shot him down, his look of suspicion replaced with a blank one.
Harry could, however, see the anger in it. Yes. It was admittedly his fault for just leaving. Not that he had known it would cause such a…a mess because never had it even occurred to him that Tom Marvolo Riddle would miss him. Merlin, this was news that was still taking time to digest.
And yes, he was aware that making up after all that with a simple hug was the most absurd, if not cheap, thing to do.
But somehow, he felt it was just right.
Call it a parent's instinct.
Harry remained in the same position, his gaze unwavering. "Come on."
"Harry, I do not—"
"I'll force you into doing it or keep on bugging you for one if you don't."
The boy chose to remain quiet.
"Just one hug." Harry persisted. "And then I'll leave you to yourself. I promise."
There was another stretch of silence. And just as Harry was on the verge of giving up, the little Dark Lord moved, albeit reluctantly, until he was awkwardly standing in front of Harry, unsure of what to do while the other wore his brightest smile.
"Come here." Harry pulled his son into what he self-proclaimed was the warmest hug ever. He wrapped his arms tight around the boy's waist, tugging him flush against his chest before nuzzling his face against Tom's soft dark hair.
The other melted into the touch with a sigh, signifying that he had given up on trying to resist it— not that he had even tried hard enough in the first place.
He had found rest in Harry's arms; rest after all the waiting.
"I'm sorry, Tom." Harry whispered gently as he held the boy close, a hand gingerly stroking the back of his head. "I didn't really mean to suddenly leave. Did I worry you?"
Tom mumbled something in reply.
"Hmm?"
"Don't do that again." The boy repeated, this time a little louder. "Don't leave."
Harry smiled. "I won't. I promise."
Tom hummed.
"You're not still angry with me now, are you?"
"…not really."
"Ice-cream?"
"Harry, ice-cream is not always the answer to everything." Tom's muffled reply carried the tone of fond exasperation. "Even though it works with you."
Harry laughed. "But of course!" He grinned. "My Tommy knows everything, doesn't he?"
"It's just common sense." Tom huffed. He cleared his throat as he lifted his head up to lock eyes with the other. "But there is something that would cheer me up."
"Is there?" Harry raised a brow, staring into his son's gray orbs.
"Maybe if you send that vampire away—"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle!"
"…I was just saying."
A/N:
Who's that Pokémo— new boi?! It's Sanguini the vampire!
His name Sanguini Claudoir de Lamoureaux is pronounced: Son-ghee-nee Clu-dwa du La-moo-hoo. I know. It's quite a mouthful.
A big thank you to my lovely reviewers D C JoKeR H S, Randomthoughts08, G4rd3n, SakuraLuck and Half lois huffle! I'm really grateful :')
On a personal note, SakuraLuck,I really love the way you understood the last chapter. Thank you!
To all those who put this in their favorites and follows, you have my many thanks too.
And to the rest, I'm happy you gave this work a try!
[Edit: 11.02.2019] there wasn't much to change here in this chapter, seeing how it was one of the more recent ones. Phew. And I apologize for the delay. I had underestimated the exam I had yesterday and was unable to update on time, yikes. Also, thank you Gugaraneth and mizzrazz71 for your reviews! :')